Knowledge, Attitude and Socio-cultural Beliefs of Adolescent Girls towards Menstruation

Authors

  • Anju Kapoor People's College of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bhanpur, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh
  • Smriti Khari People's College of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bhanpur, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v36i1.14386

Keywords:

Adolescent girls, menarche, menstruation

Abstract

Introduction: Knowledge regarding physiology of menstruation and hygienic practices are poor in adolescent girls. Deep rooted social beliefs make their attitude more negative.

Material and Methods: In a hospital based cross sectional study, one hundred adolescent girls who have attained menarche were interviewed with a pre-validated semi-structured questionnaire to assess their knowledge, experiences, effect of mother’s education on menstrual hygienic practices and factors affecting their positive and negative attitude.

Results: Mean age of menarche was 13.28 (SD ± 1.42) years. Mothers were the first informant to 56% girls. Only 11% girls knew that menstruation is a normal biological phenomenon and 28% girls were mentally prepared before menarche. Readymade pads were being used by 46% girls. Most girls were forced to follow various restrictions during menstruation. Maternal education was significantly associated with use of readymade pads (p-value 0.031). Significant positive correlation was seen between premenarchal preparedness to pleasantness (r = 0.3215; p = 0.001) while negative correlation was found between preparedness to secrecy (r = -0.1549; p = 0.124), annoyance (r = -0.1421; p = 0.158) and worrying thoughts (r = - 0.2074; p = 0.038). Negative correlation was also seen between years of experience with menses to secrecy and worrying thought (r = -0.0162; p = 0.872 and r = -0.1033; p = 0.864 respectively).

Conclusion: There is significant lack of knowledge, poor hygienic practices and negative attitude among adolescent girls that needs to be addressed by educating them and their mothers.

J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2016;36(1):42-49

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Author Biographies

Anju Kapoor, People's College of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bhanpur, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh

Professor of Pediatrics
FAIMER fellow from GSMC - FRI, Mumbai
Department of Pediatrics

Smriti Khari, People's College of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bhanpur, Bhopal Madhya Pradesh

Final year MBBS student

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Published

2016-10-22

How to Cite

Kapoor, A., & Khari, S. (2016). Knowledge, Attitude and Socio-cultural Beliefs of Adolescent Girls towards Menstruation. Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society, 36(1), 42–49. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v36i1.14386

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Original Articles

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